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Review: The Weekend Box

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Last week Emma was sent an Weekend Box to review. The idea behind it is ingeniously simple: you get a box which contains four different crafts and activities for the children to do over the weekend.

The four activities you can expect to receive in the box(although they vary every week) fall into the following categories:

Something to Cook

Something to Make

Something to Explore and

Something Green

I am not at all craft inclined, if anything, I am actually craft-challenged and every opportunity I get to use anyone else’s ideas (and be provided with the necessary material!) gives me a thrill and brings an incredible sense of relief 🙂

Weekend box and eggs 006Emma got straight into it, as soon as she got from playgroup and we first took a good look at our activities, then she got to choose what she wanted to do first:

Weekend box and eggs 007She went for “something to make” and we had a delightful time using coloured sand and glue to create tulips and an Irish gold pot :-). The activities come with step-by-step, easy to follow instructions and everything you need for them is provided in the box. Actually, we had plenty of glue and coloured sand left which we aim to use during the week to make more pretty pictures!

Weekend box and eggs 009On Sunday mummy was feeling a bit tired so daddy took over and together with Emma decided to go for the “something green” activity. This time Emma needed more assistance from daddy as the activity included building a mini-bird feeder but she relished the moments spent with him, as you can tell from the picture:

Weekend box 010We have kept “something to eat” for the last as Emma is a picky eater and the activity challenges her to try something new: potato boats with plenty of seasoning(provided in the box) but I have high hopes that since she will be helping me make them that she will give them a taste.

The lovely people at The Weekend Box have decided to bless my readers with a generous discount, should they decide to give the product a try.

A unique promo code was set up for my readers – if you would like to try out your very own Weekend Box the code will get you the first box for free (including free delivery)!

The unique promo code is OANA52 and can be redeemed at www.weekendboxclub.com

Also, as an extra special bonus for you, my readers, during January AND ONLY with the unique promo code provided above, anyone signing up to Weekend Box will also get ALL future boxes for just £5 each (normally £7.50).

I do encourage you to give them a try, they provided opportunities to connect and learn for both Emma and us :-). If you do, please let me know what you thought of them!

Books you love

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I was truly hoping to be able to share with you pictures of my newborn today but he is taking his time. I am now overdue, with an induction planned for Sunday the 26th if he doesn’t show up until then. So I will use the opportunity to write one more post about the little girl only.

Little one, you have been a passionate reader from when you were no age. Here is you at four months, you couldn’t even sit but you were ever so eager to decipher that book (which mummy fortunately has kept and will be passing on to your brother in due time.)

DSC04672As you grew and developed, so did you taste in books and since you LOVE going to the library we have a weekly habit now of going and getting fresh books which you devour every time.

These past few weeks you have been reading a number of books that reflect so well the stage you are at right now:

1. Alice The Fairy is your ultimate favourite, you have read it so many times that you know it by heart and can proudly “read” it to daddy when he puts you to bed. Your favourite bit is when Alice uses sugar to transform breakfast into cake, probably because you have a very sweet tooth yourself :-). The book was given to you by dear friends who had outgrown it and it has proved the best present ever!

images2. Now that you will be going to school in September and we have been talking a lot about your new school, the routine and the new teacher and friends, you have taken to Starting School, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. You have had the book from the library for more than two weeks but you have no desire to return it just as yet. You use it for your creative playtime and “read” to your ever so obedient HippoHips and Piggy.

starting_school3. The last one is very new, you only got it this weekend. You have a very inquisitive mind and love learning about how things work, new places and new customs, as the picture below shows so well.

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So when I was offered this week the chance to review a book about Anisha’s Adventures in Bangladesh with you, I knew it would be spot on, since you already have shown great interest in TV programs about Africa and always ask me questions about the customs and clothing of our friends in Pakistan. You loved it, as I had expected, took it to their house to show them the dresses in the book that are like their mum’s and auntie’s dresses and was very eager to “read” and share the story with them. A great read for which mummy is grateful to the kind people at My Little Big Town! I am looking forward to the next books in the series, as I know you will be interested in learning about other faraway places in the world.

Cover-AnishasAdventures-260This is my weekly post to the Living Arrows and the Mondays Parenting Pin It Party linkies, why don’t you head over and see what other mummies have to say about their lovely offspring?

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Moments that mattered in 2013

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What were the moments that mattered most to me in 2013?

1. Finding out I was pregnant back in the spring! I had been trying to convince hubby to go for a second child for what seemed like forever and then, last spring, it happened! We had had a bad experience with our first, reflux, postnatal depression, countless sleepless nights so the fact that he decided to leave all that behind and go for it for a second time made me love and admire him even more!

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2. Moving home, for a 7th time in seven years! I love our new home, it is new and bright and cozy and perfect for awaiting a new baby in!

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3. Our summer holidays.They started gloriously, with a weekend in Paris, spent at Disneyland:

051Then, we were off to Germany, to see relatives we hadn’t seen in five years and introducing Emma to new cousins, a loving great auntie and a beautiful new country and culture:

097Then we got to sepnd the rest of the summer in Greece, to the delight of a sun-starved hubby and daughter! I love spending time with my family and the weekends we took away to Halkidiki, to relax and recharge our batteries were wonderful days full of fun and sunshine!

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4. My blog taking off this autumn and doing such a difference to my morale and mental state. I love writing, it is like free therapy to me. I also love reviewing, as it makes me feel that every lovely thing I get to review and keep helps my family financially and relieves a tad the financial pressure off hubby!

5. Signing up for an Open University course and the prospect of a steady job in the future through it! Even if the course I am taking is below the qualifications I hold already from home, I have come to accept I need to adjust and adapt if I am to support my family consistently in the long run.

I am writing this post as a prompt from Oh So Amelia in collaboration with Lloyds Bank, which are generously giving a mini iPad to one lucky blogger participating in the challenge. If I win, I will be so chuffed to offer it to my worthy hubby!

Word of the Week: Adjournment

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Delay

Adjournment was the word of this week for me, most certainly!

As you might know, I am expecting a baby boy. Any day now. This has been my slogan and opening line for the past, well, at least two weeks! You see, we have placed expectations on this baby based on our past experience with Emma and have anticipated his arrival early. By at least 9 days, that is!

But as my midwife said, this baby has his own ideas and wants to leave his own mark in our memories. By being late :-).

So, this week I have felt as if the journey to meet my little boy has been adjourned. And I won’t lie, I have felt tired, frustrated, relieved, down…all at once. But like with any other adjournment, I have a choice. I can choose to moan, groan and make my life and everybody else’s miserable. Or I can choose to go with it, make fun at the situation by asking friends’ opinion on provoking labour (and yes, nooky has been the predominant answer, if you are curious to know 🙂 Choose to reflect and enjoy the last moments of our life as it is at the moment.

So today we spent time together and with friends and we have really made an effort to appreciate what we have at present. Because we know that once the new chapter in our lives begins, things will be, well…different. We have another week, if this baby decides to stay put and until the planned induction next Sunday, to just take it easy. Enjoy the last leg of this pregnancy. Make the most of the life in three.

I will keep you posted if things change. If they don’t, see you in a week and a bit, with pics of my lovely newborn.

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